We have too many cars at home general (4) and insuring and taxing them all does rather add up. None of them are worth anything mind you but I just didn't really have the room or time for another classic.
Slowly over the last year I have missed my classics and muted getting another one. I really did love the Mr2 T-Bar and seriously considered another one but the kids so love going in the car out and about that it would have been the cause of many arguments as to which of my two sons was going on each trip out.
Having looked around at cars of interest not too much really seriously tempted me. The Celica GT4 did as I do fancy a 4 wheel drive. The winter roads around our village are terrinle they really are however I realy do find the early shape Celica ugly and just can't live with it. Now the later shape with the 220 GT4 mechanicals would be a dream ! but fortunately they didn't do that car.
I have also been tempted by the Audi S2 as it is a proper 4 seater but it doesnt have much of a reall following and is no real head turner / talking point really. So where did that leave me ?, yep back with the 944. I looked at all the options , try an S2 get a cheap Lux and 'do it up' etc etc but in the back of my mind was would I just harp back to my two 952's.
I had always said that I regretted selling my first 944 Turbo , mechanically it was an inferior car to the Black one in many ways but there was no getting around the fact that the Zermatt paintwork and deep laquer looked absolutely superb. The car oozed class and always received good comments from 944 folk and car enthusiasts in general. The fact that I knew it was leaking oil and had about 20 plus other faults didn't stop it being a 'sexy'.
Having sworn that if I ever saw it for sale I would buy the car back , I did see it for sale about 9 months ago and locally as well. The 'trader' who had bought it from me after I declared all the faults and sold it basically for parts had tarted it up and sold it on. I say tarted it up , its hard to see what he actually did TBH. I was tempted but let the car go even after the seller told me he had the oil leaks done and had put some original Turbo Tele alloys on which really are quite a find in themselves. I later found out that despite telling me he had , he hadn't fixed the odometer or cured the petrol fumes piling in the car at speed though. He seemed rather shocked that i even knew of those faults :)
A few weeks ago ( end of September 2012) again I see my old tubo for sale. This time she has been purchased by a man in North Lincs and he clearly has put her in his lorry yard and had no interest in her at all. I suspect like many folk he bought on impulse and then realised his mistake and the work involved in putting one of these great cars right.
So now the car is for sale for a few hundred quid more than I sold her , the list of improvements is as follows :
1) Added deep dish 17" Turbo Teles
2) cured oil leaks
3) changed timing belts
4) replaced totally shot leather seats with some 'dubious' Cream Vinyl ones
So it would have been rude not too. I duly buy it now on the bay and make my way up there to bring her home. I took her round the block for a quick test drive
( on trust) and its plain he hasn't been entirely truthful in his sale add suprise supride not ! , the car is as I remember her including a huge ammount of exhaust
fumes in the car which he neglected to mention and the common steering joint rattle over bumpy ground which will need sorting. However for the price, she was coming home with me !.
Today she is sitting in my garage hiding from the newly arrived winter weather.
I have done a little bit of paint tidying and have purchased a new boot seal having diagnosed the fumes problem my taping up the whole rear hatch area with masking tape. As I type I am awaiting a chance to test drive and see if I have cured the fumes. If I have then there are plenty of other niggles to get to including:
1) key doesnt operate passenger door ( lock has come adrift)
2) Odometer faulty
3) Stereo needs fitting
4) sunroof broken ( no shock there)
5) no central locking ( not sure im bothered on a 2 door car but all in good time)
